Killing Time: The Morant Bay Rebellion in Jamaica

by Gad Heuman

The Killing Time is the first full-length study of the Morant Bay Rebellion in Jamaica—an event that transformed the political system of the island and marked a watershed in Caribbean history. On October 11, 1865, several hundred black people marched into the town of Morant Bay, capital of the sugar-growing parish of St. Thomas. They pillaged the police station for weapons and confronted the local militia. In the fighting that followed, the crowd killed eighteen and wounded thirty-one; seven of its own members also died. Over the next few days, additional disturbances spread throughout the parish. The brutal suppression of the rebellion led to the deaths of nearly five hundred, the recall and attempted trial of the governor in England, and the drastic reorganization of the island’s system of government.

For this meticulously detailed work, Gad Heuman draws on a variety of sources, including the massive evidence collected by the Jamaican Royal Commission, colonial office correspondence, missionary reports, and contemporary accounts. He explores in depth the political, social, and economic injustices that sparked the rebellion as well as the historical implications of the far-reaching changes it effected. The result is a book that will prove invaluable for those studying post-emancipation trends, the dynamics of colonial rule, and the nature of popular revolt.

Genres: History

199 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1994

Reviews

[Nora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very helpful for my paper on the Morant Bay Rebellion, especially the bibliography. But I couldn't help noticing some racist sounding undertones. What gives?

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seminal work on the Morant Bay revolution, some say rebellion. Heuman relied a fairly large cache of primary sources to re-tell this story. Good place to start if you’re interested in this event and mid 19th century Jamaican history.

[Charles Sexton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good book on the Morant Bay Uprising with new information for me in regards to my Black and Jewish heritage and involvement in getting rights and freedom for the people of Jamaica.